Imarhan were born in Tamanrasset, in southern Algeria. This city is where the Tuareg community of Northern Mali, Kel Tamashek people, ended their exile in the early 1990s, following the multiple struggles they have been experiencing since the 1960s. Imarhan, meaning ‘the ones I care about’, started out around 2008, a loose collection of friends who began to play together under the watchful eye of Sadam’s cousin, Eyadou Ag Leche, bass guitarist of their ‘older brothers’ Tinariwen. Imarhan have a sound that reflects their cultural and generational background; dry guitar riffs, pop melodies and pan-African rhythms which draw on traditional Tuareg music, African ballads and the modern pop and rock the band heard growing up.Last year’s „Tahabort“ and new single „Assossamagh” are collected here on vinyl for the first time. Initially intended as a tour-only 7” for EU dates w/ KURT VILE, it’s now available in a limited quantities to indie-retail-stores. Their self-titled debut album will be released on City Slang April 29 2016, accompanied by April tour dates in support of the release.
